...The Puritans The Puritans once held a position of power among the religious world. Their beliefs were strict and they did not compromise their morals or standards for any outside individual. In The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne, the Puritan religion reflects the attitude and values of the common man during that particular time period. The main belief among the Puritans was that they were God’s chosen people. In their eyes, they held supremacy over the average man. They believed in Pelagianism based on the Doctrine of Elect. This was the belief that man could redeem himself through acts of charity, religious devotion, and by living an unselfish life. Many of these strict beliefs were based on John Calvin’s principle of predestination. Predestination was that through God’s grace, one would reach heaven and that this special grace could not be earned; it was predetermined at birth. This principle of predestination forced Puritans to truly believe that their actions did not matter and their devotion to God had no bearing over their destiny. Puritans also believed in the degradation of one’s self, which meant that they had to make themselves worthy to God so that he would not instill his wrath on the Puritan community. They feared God and his special power, but considered themselves God’s special elects. Basically, they felt they had the right to perform any necessary deeds that would satisfy God’s will. Sin was thought of as an unavoidable element of human nature...
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...Puritan doctrine taught that all men are totally depraved and require constant self-examination to see that they are sinners and unworthy of God's Grace. Because man had broken the Covenant of Works when Adam had eaten from the Tree of Knowledge, God offered a new covenant to Abraham's people which held that election to Heaven was merely a possibility. In the Puritan religion, believers dutifully recognized the negative aspects of their humanity rather than the gifts they possessed. This shadow of distrust would have a direct influence on early American New England and on many of its historians and writers, one of which was Nathaniel Hawthorne. The influence of Puritan religion, culture and education along with the setting of his hometown of Salem, Massachusetts, is a common topic in Nathaniel Hawthorne's works. In particular, Hawthorne's "Young Goodman Brown" allows the writer to examine and perhaps provide commentary on not only the Salem of his own time but also the Salem of his ancestors. Growing up Hawthorne could not escape the influence of Puritan society, not only from residing with his father's devout Puritan family as a child but also due to Hawthorne's study of his own family history. The first of his ancestors, William Hathorne, is described in Hawthorne's "The Custom House" as arriving with the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1630 "with his Bible and his sword" (26). A further connection can also be seen in his more notable ancestor John Hathorne, who exemplified...
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...Puritan and Powhatan Dilemmas In the story of John Winthrop by Edmund Morgan and Pocahontas by Camilla Townsend, the word dilemma is thrust at the center and is the driving force for these biographies. Using the word dilemma suggests there is a conflict and one must make decisions and/or choose a particular side. This most certainly is the case for both John Winthrop’s Puritans and Powhatan. Edmund Morgan uses the title The Puritan Dilemma because the whole idea of the Puritans establishing themselves in America is itself a dilemma. Dilemma is used in Camilla Townsend’s title Pocahontas and the Powhatan Dilemma because the situation that Pocahontas’s people, the Powhatan, are forced into is very much so a dilemma. The word was chosen with a purpose and the reasons for why both authors use dilemma in their biography titles is explored individually and then compared. The dilemma of John Winthrop and the Puritans is depicted throughout the biography. It is clear that the dilemma they faced was surrounded by their religious views. Winthrop and the Puritans embraced religion so much as to move to New England and create the “kind of society that God demanded of all His servants but that none had yet given Him (Morgan, 42).” Morgan puts a lot of effort to show the reader that the Puritan view of religion was plagued with the idea and question of what responsibility does a religious person owe to society. Morgan argues that this question and dilemma that Winthrop and the...
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...create the model society. The Puritans where one group that wanted to make a society based on their beliefs. The Puritans wanted to purify the church of England. They also wanted to build a purified society. One aspiration that really took of for the puritans was their attempt to create a self-government. The Puritans wanted to have “A City upon a Hill”, in which the eyes of all people would have been upon them . They felt in order to build a purified society they would have to following in the way of the Bible. Basically people question whether the Puritans were an intolerant religious group of racists or the foundation of America? There are valid claims on both sides. Although, many historians believe Puritans had a direct effect on the rapid and successful development of American civilization, that the Puritans were able to come up with the idea of a “democratic” state, the whole process of a few governing and people elect came from them, but for the most part we can see through their beilefs and laws they were an intolerant group that goes against American values set in the constitution. The biggest American value set in our constitution is the separation of Church and State. We enjoy basic human freedoms, like freedom of religion and speech. This was not the case with the puritans. They imposed concrete belief in the Bible and lived by it. Maintaining your life based on the Bible sets valuable limits. Prior to following the Bible, the Puritans looked at laughter and pleasure...
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...History 101 May 30, 2013 The point of view that seems most accurate based on my understanding of the laws that were enacted and practiced by the Puritans during the setting up of their colony in Massachusetts is the point of view that states that the Puritans were a reactionary and theocratic people opposed to freedom of thoughts, religious liberty and the idea of democratic government. The Puritans were not flexible in their thoughts or works, and had no regard for change no matter how successful it could prove. They had fled to America in order to find a peaceful place to practice their religion. They had lost faith in the Catholic Church and were protesting against the way the Catholic Church was aligned with God. The Puritan clergy did not embrace the slightest notions that appeared to deviate from what they thought Christianity was supposed to be. They were intolerant and unreceptive to any such thoughts and were indifferent to science and cultural matters. The ideas held by the first group of historians about the Puritans can be sustained when one looks at the Puritan’s laws and how their colony was first governed. For example, the law which states that ‘gaming’ was prohibited in the colony, speaks directly to the point that the Puritans were indeed dictators and were very undemocratic. Their society was much like slavery as the time used for ‘gaming’ or past time was viewed as unfruitful. The inhabitants other than those who were direct law makers were expected to...
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...Difference between Puritan and Separatist A puritan is a person who believes that the church has fallen out of its way and continuously seeks better ways of worship. On the other hand, a separatist seeks to break away from the conventional church practice and establish new ways of worship. A common characteristic of the Puritans and the separatists is that they were protestant groups from the Church of England. However, there exist some differences between the two (Mackenal 22). The puritans came into being in the 1560s with the dissenting view that even though the English Church had reformed, it still had a lot of Catholicism. Therefore, the puritans wanted to move away from the severe forms of Catholicism and re-energize their faith and religion. On their part, the separatists also found fault with the Church of England in that it was too much of the Catholic Church, all in terms of worship and governance. Both the puritans and the separatists wanted to reform the Church of England but differed in the mode of doing the reforms. Whereas the puritans wanted to change the church from within, the separatists wanted to change the church from outside of it (Adair 67). The puritans believed that a clean heart was necessary in order to execute the will of God. They believed in the sin of recreation and they considered that it was their duty to dedicate time to God. As well, they stressed that the person to head the church should be a spiritual leader as opposed to...
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...Puritans Aspirations of a Model Society Chelsea J. Austin Ms. K. L Gooden, instructor APUSH Fall- 113 Sumter Central High School November 1, 2013 Brainstorm Puritans: Puritans were a religious group Separated from the Church of England Thought that the Church of England in their eyes was corrupt Wanted to purify the Church of England were single-minded visionaries convinced of the rightness of their beliefs were practical and businesslike persecuted for their beliefs and fled England for Holland and, ultimately, for North America Many historians feel that the Puritan ethics of thrift, hard work, and self – sufficiency contributed to the success of the New World. Aspirations of a Puritan Model Society: Peaceful environment Entirely focus on God and do his will Strong community Outline Introductory Sentence: Puritans came from New England in the seventeenth century with hopes of creating a model society. Thesis Statement: Their aspirations for a model society consisted of making a strong community, peaceful environment, and a society focused solely on glorifying God and doing his will. Introduction: Puritans came from New England in the seventeenth century with hopes of creating a model society. They came trying to escape the religious persecution of New England and the corruption of the Church of England. Puritans attempted to establish a utopian society that would thrive from honoring God's laws...
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...the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender.” Every Puritan or Humanist in the world uses this philosophy to fight for their ideals. Puritans, who lived in the 1600s to the 1750s, thought that the only way God would reward them was to work hard in life now, and reap the rewards later. Humanists, who lived later from the 1750s to the 1850s, believed that they should take their happiness in this life, not the next. The Puritan idea trumps in today’s world as people work for their salvation, not their pleasure. Religious groups...
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...Literature Before 1865 14 February 2012 Puritan Ideology: Irresistible Grace Puritanism was a group of practices and principles that created reforms in doctrine and religion. The basic Puritan beliefs were founded on the TULIP concept. It is an acronym that stands for: Total depravity, Unconditional election, Limited atonement, Irresistible grace, and Perseverance of the saints. There are also other beliefs outside of TULIP, such as typology, manifest destiny, and backsliding. However, a principle that was focused on by John Winthrop and Jonathan Edwards is irresistible grace. It makes the assertion that God’s grace is freely given; it cannot be earned or denied. Grace is recognized as the saving and transfiguring power of God. Winthrop’s “A Model of Christian Charity” and Edward’s “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” are effective examples of literature that shows irresistible grace. John Winthrop, along with many other people from Europe, came to America to establish the “city on the hill” idea of religion. While being the governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, he felt that it was his duty to remind the people of their purpose for coming to America. He envisioned a society that practiced God’s teaching and that was based on His ideas. By creating this religious community, the Puritans would be an illustration showing everyone else how to live the way that God wanted. In his sermon, “A Model of Christian Charity,” he tells the Puritans that their success would greatly depend...
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...Puritanism was one of the strictest religious groups that were in the New World, yet still numerous the Puritan religion was more a thing of the past that a singular concrete reason. I feel people try to create reasons for change to occur even if no reason was evident. From the beginning our country has been a melting pot of ethnicities, religions, and beliefs. Some are going to slip through the cracks, so to speak, and slowly deteriorate to little or nothing. Granted there is proof that certain elements did decay at the religion, I personally feel it was more of time related extinction than anything else. John Smith was on the east coast of the Americas around the early 1600’s, being the first English expedition Smith was able to document what he exactly saw “A people so tractable, as the Indians are, would long ere this have been quietly possessed, to the satisfaction of the adventures and the eternizing of the memory of those affected by it” (McMichael 34). From the first day a settler walked onto the shore the country has been constantly changing, groups were disappearing in our country before it was out country! Time can wear down all things and it is a valid possibility that the Puritans time simply ran out. It is quite ironic that a movement to bring Puritans into the Massachusetts Bay colony could of aided its downfall. John Winthrop was a proud Puritan who knew that salvation was to be found in the Bay colony area, he surrounded his group and declared their new city...
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...the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender.” Every Puritan or Humanist in the world uses this philosophy to fight for their ideals. Puritans, who lived in the 1600s to the 1750s, thought that the only way to be rewarded was by God in heaven was to work hard in life now, and reap the rewards later. Humanists, who lived later from the 1750s to the 1850s, believed that their happiness should be taken in this life, not the next. The Puritan idea trumps in today’s world as people work for their salvation, not their pleasure. Religious...
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...Rebekah Smith Professor Donald Mosseau ENG-350 19 May 2015 Puritans in America Pursuing religious freedom in order to believe in what they want to without persecution and finding refuge, the Puritans set up a system of standards in the new America. In 1630, approximately 20,000 Puritans immigrated to the new America from England in order to gain liberty to worship God as they desired (Morgan, 25). The Puritans first belief was predestination and that the bible was God's true law. The Separatists faction, who were the Pilgrims settled in the Plymouth Colony, had left the Church of England creating their own groups. The Separatists were the minority, and most Puritans, who later on settled in the Massachusetts Bay Colony, desired to rearrange the Church from within. Puritans pledged to their religion with alternating points of fervor. Certain Puritans in Massachusetts Bay attended church as a regular becoming a church member while others only attended church meetings without converting (Morgan, 79). Regardless of status, it was mandatory that everyone attended meetings. Governor William Bradford as a child was caught up in the fervor of the Protestant reform. He became a dedicated member of one of the numerous separatist churches which was the “left wing” of Puritanism (Bradford, 143). For thirty years, Bradford was the governor of the Plymouth colony. He helped stabilize and shape the political institutions of the first colony in New England...
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...Puritan ethics emphasize that hard work, discipline, and being cautious with spending money is a result of the values they were exposed to by their protestant faith. This article analyzes many Puritan ethics that are still existing in today’s society or have become obsolete. The two ethic phrases that people still use today are “Save for a rainy day”, and “Work together for the common good”. Samples of phrases that no longer apply in today’s society are “Men are superior to women physically, emotionally, and mentally” and the second phrase is “Children are to be seen, not heard”. Below are some examples of how these views are either still being used or are no longer thought of as valued or important. The phrase “Save for a rainy day” is quite often used in today’s American society. People say this when they usually want to save money for an urgent and unexpected time of need. Examples would include an unexpected loss of a job, a disaster that affected your primary home or a loss in your family that affected day to day income needs. To prepare for this, individuals should open up a savings account or invest in purchasing homes or businesses....
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...England’s foundation was built by the settlers who had came there to seek new opportunities and find religious freedom. Puritans were among the first of many to settle in the New England regions, and they brought with them their ideas and values. For the Puritans, life revolved around religion, and their religious beliefs influenced how they viewed politics, the economy, and the social aspects of their lives. Politically, the Puritans believed in liberty and that every man is equal if they put forth labor and hard work. Governmental ideas and values that were brought to New England by the Puritans came from England, which was one of the only government styles they knew. Those who worked hard and cared about the community as a whole were...
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...others, has called Puritan society a culture based on the principle of exclusion. With particular references to Winthrop, Edwards and historical events, discuss the evidence of this principle in Puritan life and culture. ______________________________________________ One may hear or read that the people who founded the early United States of America came to the “New World” in order to practice their religious convictions in peace and freedom, without being persecuted. They are often cited as examples. John Winthrop for instance, who was the first governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, has been quoted as a source of inspiration by numerous US presidents such as John Fitzgerald Kennedy or Ronald Reagan. Yet, one may consider that John Winthrop and Puritans in general are far from representing a tradition of tolerance and freedom. Looking at history and core principles of Puritanism, it cannot be denied that the puritans’ “city upon a hill” had more in common with a totalitarian regime than with the spirit of the Bill of Rights passed in 1789, which embodies far better the values of the United States of America. Puritans were definitely not tolerant. Their culture was based on the principle of exclusion as they did not accept any religious belief that differed from theirs, and rejected and even persecuted people who dared think and act differently from them. The Puritans’ texts available today can make one understand how intolerant Puritans were. In his famous...
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